Finnish Goth metal troupe Dark the Suns really pour the piano and keyboards on throughout the duration of IN DARKNESS COMES BEAUTY, making the instrument the foundation to build around this act's formulaic yet dynamic brand of metal. Tracks like the whispering vocal-led "Alone" conveys a Katatonia meets Paradise Lost vibe, while the synth gloss meets guitar crunch found on "Away" and "Ghost Bridges" sounds like Anathema and Opeth joining forces. Despite an overwhelming use of piano, these tunes are well-crafted and move at a surprisingly upbeat pace for a Goth band, as cuts like "Black Sun" could also be considered somewhat danceable, almost stripping the melancholy off straight away. However, there's still plenty of metal nuances from the gruff death metal growl to the rousing guitarwork here to give this 10-track disc a majestic might and murky aura perfect for the passionate Euro metal contingent. www.firebox.fi
- Mike SOS